Fig. 3

Effects of optimal cytokine combination supplemented with selected small molecules on cell expansion. a Confirmation of PB and cord blood CD34⁺ cells cultured in a 24-well plate. b Optimal cytokine combination screening. Cord blood CD34⁺ cells were primed in the presence or absence of the small-molecule combination supplemented with different groups of cytokines for 7 days. c Representative flow cytometry results of CD34 and CD38 percentage, and phenotypic changes and cellular fold expansion caused by the optimal formula for day 7. All data are shown as means ± SD, n = 3. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. CBHSC cord blood hematopoietic stem cell, IgG immunoglobulin G, MNC mononuclear cells, PBHSC peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell, PC uncultured CBHSCs, TSF TPO + SCF + Flt-3 L, 3TSF IL-3 + TPO + SCF + Flt-3 L, 6TSF IL-6 + TPO + SCF + Flt-3 L, 36TSF IL-6 + IL-3 + TPO + SCF + Flt-3 L, VC vehicle control